Edalhatu residents are happy about the launch of Atal clinic in the locality, but said it lacked basic infrastructure required for its smooth functioning.

“The clinic is a boon for poor and elderly patients and can function more efficiently if the basic infrastructure is provided. Power supply in Edalthatu is erratic. The state government should provide a power backup for the clinic. In the absence of electricity, it will be difficult to run the clinic in the evening. On Saturday, the clinic had to be closed following a power cut,” local resident Kamlesh Kumar said.

The Atal clinic at the ground floor of the RMC ward office on the foothills of Jojo hillock was inaugurated by chief minister Raghubar Das on August 16 to provide free treatment. The state government plans to set up 100 such clinics across the state by September 25.

“There is no proper approach road to the clinic. Patients, especially the elderly, will find it difficult to walk on the rocky stretch,” another resident Sanjay Kumar said.

Sunita Devi, who also lives in Edalhatu, proposed the deployment of at least one security guard in the evening.

“There are three female staff who leave the clinic after 8pm. The locality becomes deserted and public transport is hard to come by. We should take care of the safety of the doctors and nurses,” she said.

Nonetheless, the residents feel that the clinic was long overdue.

Lalmohan Sharma is happy that the Atal clinic is located close to his house.

Sharma, who suffers from uncontrolled shivering of hands and legs, visted the clinic on Sunday morning and was checked by medical officer Dr Awani Kumar, who provided him medicines and collected his blood sample.

“I was not able to visit RIMS or sadar hospital for treatment. I can’t afford to purchase medicines. Today, I visited the clinic where the doctor and nurses treated me well,” Sharma said.

Another elderly woman, Manju Devi, also visited the clinic with complaints of headache and dizziness.

“Sometimes elderly people have nobody in the family to take them to a doctor. The clinic is a godsend for them,” she said.

Health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni said RMC would have to provide logistic support to the clinic.

“We will make the necessary arrangements as far as the power backup is concerned and take up the matter with the RMC for the remaining facilities,” Kulkarni said.

Deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya said he would visit the clinic within a couple of days. “We will soon ensure a proper approach road and look into the deployment of a security staff,” he said.